The Al Wahda board had immediately made an announcement that Ten Cate’s successor would also be from the Netherlands, and following a swift recruitment process, the former VVV Venlo boss was installed at the hot seat at Al Nahyan Stadium.

Steijn’s first test in charge of the Abu Dhabi side will be a two-legged clash with Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr at the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16. Al Wahda travel to Riyadh for the first leg on August 5, then play hosts to the return fixture a week later.

Under Ten Cate, Al Wahda had finished fourth in the UAE Pro League, booking a place at the 2020 AFC Champions League. They also finished top of their continental group ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad.